New cryptic bats Found In Senegal

An international research team led by Professor Petr Koube and Darina Koubínová discovered five new species of vesper bats during a series of expeditions to Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park, according to a research paper published in Frontiers in Zoology. The new species are considered cryptic, because their genetic makeup is different despite physical similarities. The new bats have yet to be named.

Some scientists believe there may be as many as 50 species of vesper bat in Senegal, however others consider this an underestimation. The scientists believe that the evolution of such a large number of genetically-distinct yet physically-similar bat species in one area was likely due to long periods of isolation.”The presence of cryptic taxa pairs across the tree of Vespertilionidae suggests a signal of long genetic isolation between West- and other African populations (probably about 0.4-6 million years ago at species level…),” reads the study.Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1111-edwards-crytpic-bat-discovery-senegal.html#WxsqEB4FZ8oWmbMI.99

Some scientists believe there may be as many as 50 species of vesper bat in Senegal, however others consider this an underestimation. The scientists believe that the evolution of such a large number of genetically-distinct yet physically-similar bat species in one area was likely due to long periods of isolation.
“The presence of cryptic taxa pairs across the tree of Vespertilionidae suggests a signal of long genetic isolation between West- and other African populations (probably about 0.4-6 million years ago at species level…),” reads the study.

Nycticeinops schlieffenii. Photo courtesy of Prof. Jaroslav Červený.<

Photo courtesy of Prof. Jaroslav Červený.

source:mongabay.com

Some scientists believe there may be as many as 50 species of vesper bat in Senegal, however others consider this an underestimation. The scientists believe that the evolution of such a large number of genetically-distinct yet physically-similar bat species in one area was likely due to long periods of isolation.”The presence of cryptic taxa pairs across the tree of Vespertilionidae suggests a signal of long genetic isolation between West- and other African populations (probably about 0.4-6 million years ago at species level…),” reads the study.Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1111-edwards-crytpic-bat-discovery-senegal.html#WxsqEB4FZ8oWmbMI.